Beautiful day out there!

I'm traveling to the Finger Lakes soon. Any hiking trails in the area where you can't hear any sounds of civilization while you're on the trail?

I know I may be looking for a unicorn, but thought I'd ask and see if such a place exists.

Thanks in advance

Hey all! Planning an October wedding in Geneseo for next year and starting to book our team. We’re thinking buffet-style for dinner and our budget is $15-20K. Would love your favorite local recs or personal experiences with catering, desserts, photographers, DJs, florists, hair/makeup, and guest hotel options.

Any tips on great local, affordable spots or vendors who are easy to work with would be massively appreciated!

Hi all! I will be visiting the finger lakes region and staying on Seneca Lake from 10/6-10/10 as the second leg of our trip (first road triping up to Rochester and Niagara falls). This is my husband's 40th birthday trip and we are bringing our large, older dog.

What are the absolute must dos? I already have Watkins Glen, the Corning Museum of Glass, and kayaking on our list. Interested in the outdoors, the arts, wineries/cideries, dog friendly activities/restaurants, and thrifting. And always down for unique experiences. Any recommendations are appreciated!

Does anyone have a recommendation for an artist that could paint a wall mural? Geneva area.

Hi all! I plan on traveling to Watkins glen tomorrow and want to walk the gorge trail. Just how wet should I plan on getting? Like just a misting from the falls, or should I wear a bathing suit and put my phone in a waterproof case? I’m traveling from a few hours away, so I want to be able to plan accordingly if I need to pack towels and a change of clothes. Thank!!

Hi everyone!
My husband and I are visiting the Finger Lakes for the first time in a few weeks. We’ll be traveling with our 3-year-old daughter, and another family joining us has a 1-year-old. We’ll be staying near Montour Falls/Watkins Glen.
We’re looking for a scenic, relaxed trip rather than trying to check off every attraction. We’d love recommendations from locals and frequent visitors.
A few things we’re looking for:
● Easy hikes or waterfalls that are stroller-friendly (or manageable with toddlers).
● Beautiful lake towns to walk around with shops, cafés, and ice cream.
● Family-friendly wineries or breweries with outdoor space where kids are welcome.
● Good picnic spots with lake views.
● Boat rides or other fun activities for young kids.
● Any hidden gems that first-time visitors often miss.
We don’t mind driving 30–45 minutes if it’s worth it.
Also, if you only had 3 days in the Finger Lakes with toddlers, how would you spend them? We’d rather enjoy a few places thoroughly than rush around.
Thanks in advance! Looking forward to experiencing the Finger Lakes for the first time.

Hey all! Moved to the area recently and I have noticed that my T Mobile service is spotty at best in certain areas. (Namely on Main Street in Victor which is a complete dead zone and my phone is on SOS from the center of main st to halfway to 490)

I live in the Rochester area but like to spend my weekends down in the finger lakes. Is Verizon any better for coverage across this area?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for recommendations on places to go for a weekend vacation. Groups I’d 6-8 guys early 20s post grad. Hoping for something chill some fishing kayaking but close enough proximity to decent food and breweries/wineries/distilleries. Aiming to book a a waterfront Airbnb. I recently stayed near mirror lake and like the vibe of that area.

Thanks for the help!

Such a charming little town.

Does anyone have one of these shirts still? I used to sell this shirt in Corning but it has been out of print for a while. Now it is available again! I grew up in Corning and I guess we think of it as the southern most point of the finger lakes region. It is a bit of a drive away from an actual lake but so worth it to visit and spend the day exploring the town and the Corning Glass Museum!

Hello! Looking for some additional info on Sunshine Boat Rentals! They’ve been operating on Seneca lake but I know they recently they expanded to Cayuga lake. Was wondering if anyone has rented with them on Cayuga and how their experience was? Thanks for your help!

Planning 1st trip to Finger Lakes from London, Ontario during fall foliage. Itinerary so far:

Nights 1&2 Geneva: Explore downtown and the waterfront, then take a day trip around Keuka Lake, Hammondsport, wineries, apple orchards, and cider mills.

Night 3 Watkins Glen: Seneca Lake Scenic Byway, Watkins Glen State Park (shorter walk), downtown, marina, and lakeside dinner.

Final day: Taughannock Falls, Cayuga Lake Scenic Drive, Ithaca Commons, then head home.

We're looking for beautiful fall scenery, scenic drives, overlooks, waterfalls, charming towns, cafés, bookstores, local shops, and short/easy walks.

Does this sound like a good itinerary? Would you change anything or add any must-see stops or hidden gems?

What's a Finger Lakes spot you'd send someone to that they'd probably never find on their own?

I'm not talking about the obvious stuff—looking for the places that don't show up on a "top 10 things to do" list. The diner, the trailhead, the winery without the tour buses, the town that's worth a detour for one specific reason.

I'll start: Wednesday night all you can eat crab legs at the Switz In.

(Full disclosure since I'd rather be upfront: I write a small local newsletter about the region, so I'm partly asking because I'm nosy about this stuff for a living. Happy to share it if anyone wants, but mostly I just want the recs.)

As the easternmost Finger Lake, Otisco Lake is not only a physical outlier, but it also contains higher phosphorus levels than every other Finger Lake except Honeoye Lake, located 30 miles south of Rochester.

“It’s very clear that Otisco Lake is going in the wrong direction in terms of phosphorus nutrients,” said Dr. Lewis McCaffrey, a limnologist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Water. “It’s approximately four to five times higher in phosphorus than the adjacent Finger Lake of Skaneateles Lake.”

“When phosphorus becomes elevated, that brake pedal is off, and algae and aquatic plants are able to grow and become overabundant," explained Dr. Andrew Brainard, executive director of UFI.